A/N: Ugh, these two are controlling my brain! I want desperately to work on/finish the Harry and Hermione story that I abandoned 5 freaking years ago, but these two are like, "Um, no. We have things to say. Get to typing!" Bossy!

The first three moments are from the other Alice/Tarrant stories of mine ("Wedded Bliss" and "Songs of the Heart"). I took the jealous Hatter moments and expanded upon them. I like them better this way. I hope you do to!

I am a jealous man. I won't deny it, in fact I readily admit it. I've always been a bit possessive. My hat, my tea cup, things that are special to me are mine. No touchy touchy! So, obviously, the most special thing in my life, my Alice, makes me quite possessive.

I hate the term in one sense. It makes me sound utterly barbaric. As if I club her over the head and drag her back to our chambers. I don't wish to "own" her, per se. No one could ever own such a muchy angel as my Alice. But I do wish to make sure she remains my Alice. The madness is especially attached to her, so I walk a fine line some days. Keep myself from becoming the barbarian that I fear, but yet let the world know that they are to mind their P's and Q's with her.

It probably started with her first visit. Now, of course, I wasn't in love with her then, but I was attached to her. Her curiosity and her tenacity was endearing even back then. And when she returned to me, er … Underland, that curiosity and tenacity was accompanied by her immense muchness and beauty!

I.

Our engagement ball was an event to behold. The White Queen had spared nothing when it came to the festivities. It was meant to celebrate not only our engagement, but also Alice's defeat of the jabberwocky and her decision to stay in Underland.

I was terribly looking forward to dancing with my fiancée and spending the entire evening staring into her beautiful blue eyes. Our friends were dancing around us and having a wonderful time. My arms were wrapped around sweet Alice and I was teaching her a new dance. For someone who hated to dance, she certainly picked up the steps quickly.

And then it happened. Lord Rodderick came over and was slurvish enough to cut in! What fool cuts in a dance with a newly engaged couple! Apparently that one.

Alice apologized silently with her eyes and agreed to dance with him. I knew we had to behave seeing as how we were just moments ago made a Lord and Lady ourselves. Wouldn't want to tarnish our reputations right away. But at the same time, I wanted to flip a table in anger.

"Tarrant, it's not as though he's going to marry her. Calm down!" Chessur purred in my ear as I sulked at our table.

"Not helping, cat," I replied tensely.

"Hatta', Chess is righ'." Mally added. "Alice is fine! And yeh shouldn' be doin' anythin' teh make yehrself look bad!"

"Aye, aye," I began, slipping into the accent that I knew was inevitable. "But just look at 'im! He kens she cannae do th' steps yet and she's gettin' frustrated!"

"She's a strong girl, Tarrant. Let her take care of this herself," Chess said, wisely being out of arm's length. Not that it would have mattered. Bloody evaporating cat.

I watched with irritation pouring off of me. I caught Alice's eye and nodded in encouragement to her. I was certain she would have noticed the red in my eyes, but she obviously couldn't act on it yet. She got a fierce look of determination on her face and began to dance much better with him.

The music began to fade and I was never so glad for a song to end. Alice politely curtseyed and hurried over to me.

"Lord Hightopp, I believe you need to dance with me now." She smiled and whispered, "If I can dance with him, I can dance with anyone."

I beamed at her. "Lady Kingsleigh, I would love to dance with you again." I took her back onto the dance floor and pulled her close.

"You know, that'll be Lady Hightopp soon," she said softly into my ear.

"I love the sound of that," I replied.

"Me too." That radiant smile melted my heart.

"Would you like to try something a bit harder?" I asked.

"I'm up for the challenge."

'Aren't you always?' I thought as I began the steps.

II.

Alice Pleasance Kingsleigh Hightopp was the savior of Underland. There is no convincing her of this, but the fact remains. And because of this fact, Underland needs her … more than I'm comfortable with.

Not even a year after we were married, Mirana insisted that Alice take tour of Underland. It turned into a 3 day tour of the further places of Underland with the Queen. I was offered this as well, but I had a list a mile long for hat orders for the upcoming Frabjous Day anniversary and desperately needed to finish. I had a feeling that the ladies didn't want me with them anyway since I was certain they were going to Witzend and plan for the clean up. I wasn't keen on going there, but for my Alice, I would have.

She insisted that I needed to finish my hats and that she would be fine. She would be with the Queen and all the guards. And perhaps absence would make our hearts grow fonder.

I wasn't sure I could get any fonder of her, but I liked the idea.

As they left, I felt part of my heart leaving. It was a ridiculous notion, but I knew I wouldn't be happy until they returned. I threw myself into my work, wanting to be as close to done as possible when they got back. I wanted to welcome my wife home … properly.

On day 2, I began to resent Underland. It was ridiculous that Alice – my Alice – should be carted away for 3 days just to get a better look at the place. She had forever to see it. And let's face it, not all of Underland is as lovely as Marmoreal. Why would she want to go to those places? Why was Mirana taking her to those places? Why was she taking her away from me? Didn't she understand how desperately I needed her around? What if something happened to them while they were gone? What if –

"Hatta!"

I spun around to find Mally on my work table.

"Thank you … I'm fine."

"No yeh ain't. I though' I 'eard yellin' and I find yeh here, talkin' to yehrself and frettin' o'er a bunch o' stuff tha' ain't gonna 'appen."

"Oh dear … was that out loud?" I asked, embarrassed.

"Aye. But doncha worry about it none. Hatta, she's comin' 'ome tomorrah. Quit worryin' since yeh know she'll be upset fer causin' yeh such a pain."

"I know, Mally … I've just grown so accustomed to having her here. She makes me so calm. I had forgotten how quickly I could slip into things."

"I remember," she sighed. "It's been nice 'avin' Alice aroun'. Keeps yeh in check. But this is somethin' she needed to do. Something she wanted to do. Yeh can't deny 'er that. An' yeh know she'll come runnin' back to yeh … all googily eyed."

I smiled. "Yes, I suppose she will."

"Hatta, would yeh like some tea?"

"Mally, that would be lovely."

She ran to my shoulder and we went down to the tables for tea. I still resented Underland for taking my bride, even temporarily, but at least now I could tolerate the separation. After tea, I went back to my hats. I needed to be done by tomorrow!

The next day, I waited for their carriage like a dog waiting for its master. As soon as my sweet wife stepped out of the carriage, I had her in my arms.

"Welcome home, Alice. I've missed you more than I can say," I murmured into her hair.

She clutched me just as tightly. "I thought we'd never get here!"

A slight scratch on my scalp and I knew we had been apart far too long. I scooped her up and headed for our carriage.

"Welcome home, your majesty!" I called over my shoulder and I heard her giggling as she told us to have fun.

Like I needed to be told.

It was like heaven to have her with me again. I knew I would have to continue to share her with Underland and others, but I had my hope that she would always come back to my waiting arms.

III.

It was our second wedding anniversary and Alice spent most of the morning planting a garden of flowers outside. I was especially captivated by her beauty as she planted a row of buttercups.

I knew what she was doing. She was avoiding getting ready for another ball that Mirana just had to throw. We weren't at all surprised that she held the dance on that evening. But we were always determined to make the most of these events, even if we weren't all that impressed by them.

As we twirled around to some lively music, Alice noticed a man in the corner, staring at us.

"Tarrant, do you recognize that man?"

I turned my head. "No, love. Can't say that I do."

We spun again and fell back into the steps of the dance. In the 2 years that we had been married, Alice had become quite the dancer. We moved beautifully together.

The man kept staring and it began to annoy me.

"What do you think he wants?" I asked.

"How would I know? I haven't a clue who he is."

My grip on her waist tightened. How dare that man stare at my wife? Did he not see that she obviously had a dance partner?

"I don't like how he's looking at you," I muttered.

"Maybe he isn't even looking at us," Alice said. "Maybe he's just staring into space. Or at a couple behind us."

"Alice, you are the most beautiful woman in this room. Of course he is looking at you."

And then, it happened. The strange man walked over. I tried so hard to keep from losing it. It was a formal ball and it certainly wouldn't do to start ripping tablecloths off the tables and beating strange men to a pulp.

"Hello," he said with a tone that just dripped of smug. "This is my first ball at the palace and I was wondering if I might cut in and dance with the lady."

I spun us around and instantly had her behind me, hiding her from his lecherous gaze. "Um, no, sorry. The lady is dancing with her husband and no cutting in is permitted."

"Ah, I see. Well, if the lady changes her mind later…"

"She won't," Alice added, obviously annoyed at how he referred to her.

"I suggest yeh listen an' find some other lady to stare at, yeh dog," I growled, quite accidentally letting the Outlandish accent slip out.

The man walked away, but I was still fuming. Instances like this always made me terrified that one of these days, Alice would find one of these bastards handsome enough or charming enough to walk away from me. She got quite cross with me whenever I explained this to her, so I stopped doing so. No sense giving her another excuse to run away.

I looked around and saw that the party's atmosphere had changed a bit. It wasn't that everyone had stopped and stared, but I could feel the uncomfortable nature floating around the room. I, of course, hadn't meant to do that, but … well …

"Hatter, the party is almost over. Why don't we return home?" Alice said softly, breaking me from my pity party.

"Yes, home. Perhaps that is a good idea," I sighed.

We got into our carriage and went home. Lucky for me, my Alice knows exactly how to take care of me and we made love in a very powerful way. Not only did Alice calm me and once again make me feel like the only man for her, but we also made our precious daughter that night. Take that, smug new guy!

IV.

It's strange to say (though, not perhaps for me), but I am jealous of Alice's dreams. There is an entire side to her that I'll never know. Yes, of course, she shares her dreams with me and she insists that I am in most of them. However, when Alice is asleep, there is that time where I cannot be with her. That makes me sound terribly needy and I suppose that I am. But I want to know everything there is to know about my Dearheart.

As she lays here now, she is blissfully unaware of the world around her. She is exhausted after a day with our newborn daughter, and the sleep was welcomed to her tired body. My Alice looks peaceful and beautiful. Her eyes flutter just a bit and a sweet smile comes to her mouth.

I can't help but wonder what goes on in that head of hers when she dreams.

Well, not just then. I find myself wondering what's going through my cricket's head almost 24 hours a day!

But for now I am trapped here in the world of the waking. I know I should get to sleep myself. Alice isn't the only one who is tired here. Our little Charlotte is known around the castle for her vocal skills already. I blame it on Alice … she blames it on me.

And her smile gets bigger. Alice, just what is running through your mind? Is it me? Is it London? I doubt it is a nightmare from the serene smile that graces your face.

Oh, bother! Why can I not have the powers to read people's minds? Or just Alice's.

Chessur would be laughing at me right now. Mallymkun would be chastising me for wanting to invade Alice's privacy. Thackery … well, he would probably throw a scone at me. But for no other reason than the mood struck him.

Suddenly, Alice stretches a bit and I begin to think she's waking, but no. Instead, her face adopts a somewhat victorious look. I know that look. It's the look where Alice has me right where she wants me. Why, Alice! Are you dreaming of what I think you're dreaming?

"Mmm, Tarrant," she whispers.

Now I have a new jealousy. I'm jealous of the dream self that is obviously having much more fun with Alice than I am!

V.

It's not just Alice I am jealous for. My precious daughter is very high on the list as well. Years had gone by and I was the only man in her life. The way I liked it. The moment she was born, I knew that no boy would be good enough for her.

But then he came along. That no good, slurvish … ugh, I shouldn't say such things. That slurvish boy is to be my son-in-law in just a few minutes.

I stare at her as she smooths her skirt one last time. She looks beautiful. Her red hair looks so pretty under the hat I made for her. And she looks so much like her mother that it's staggering. I'm having a hard time holding back the tears.

"Lottie … are you sure about this?" I ask quietly.

"Daddy!" she says with a giggle. I think perhaps she thinks I'm joking. I'm far from joking. "I love him!"

"But aren't you a little young?"

Realization hits her and I think I've offended her.

"Daddy!" (said with no giggle) "I'm the exact same age as Mum was when she married you! And you said you liked him!"

"Buttercup, I do like him. But you have to understand a father's point of view. I've always been your knight in shining armor … and now, well, now it's him."

"You're still Mummy's knight," she reasons.

"I know, but … oh all right."

"You know you'll always be my Daddy, right? I loved you first and I'll always love you dearly for everything you've taught me and given me. And you'll always be a knight in shining armor to me. Or a Mad Hatter in a fantastic hat!"

I have to smile. She's always known how to make me smile.

"Fine. But if he ever hurts you or makes you sad or makes you feel less than what you're worth, because Buttercup you are worth more than –"

"Daddy!" she interrupts, tossing her arms around my waist to hug me. I readily return the embrace.

"Thank you," I croak. "I'm fine."

"Then shall we?" she asks, pulling back, but not letting go just yet.

I pause. Even if I say no, she'll be heading to the aisle without me. She gets that stubborn streak from her mother.

"Yes." I offer her my arm and we begin to leave. And I mentally prepare myself to give my cherished daughter away to the new only man for her.