A/N: Well, you've all been chomping at the bit for this one. I sure hope it was worth the wait.

Also, I haven't said it in a while, but once again, I own nothing here. I wish I did … but I don't. That sucks. I'm making no money from it at all. Which also sucks.

What seemed like an ordinary day in Underland turned into anything but. Not that any day is truly an ordinary day when one is in Underland, but they do seem to resemble each other after some time and …

Dear me, I am starting to ramble on like Tarrant …

Regardless, the day started off the same as usual. We ate breakfast while dodging various things tossed our way by Thackery. (Charlotte was becoming very good at this.) We met up with Tarrant's family and the children played with them in the gardens. I felt bad because it seemed as though their presence had all but taken Isabelle and Bethalyn's jobs. Luckily, with the reign of the Red Queen being quite over, the people of Underland were much less concerned about having children, so I had the feeling that they would be fine.

Tarrant went off to his workshop and I reluctantly headed to my office. I had to prepare for a meeting with the education board and it was not a session I particularly wanted to attend.

Luckily for me, McTwisp burst through the door just as I was sitting down at my desk.

"Alice! It's the queen!"

"Nivens, good God! What's wrong with her?" I asked, immediately standing back up.

Wringing his little paws, he stammered out, "I-I think it's t-time! The b-baby! She asked me to retrieve y-you right away! Please h-hurry!"

"Of course, let's go!"

I followed the twitchy rabbit out the door, but he made a strategic turn away from the direction of Mirana's office. Not surprising. So, I ran alone to the royal office, where I found my sweet sister standing with a horrified look on her face.

"Mirana, what's wrong?" I asked, rushing to her side.

"Oh, Alice! My … my … my water … it … it broke!"

I looked down to see that, indeed, she was wet and standing in a puddle. The normally pristine and dainty monarch was sopping and appalled.

"All right, this is a good thing!" I tried to convince her. "This means that Lily is on her way!"

"But I'm wet!" she countered.

"Yes, but we can get this cleaned up. We shall get you out of this wet dress and into something a little more labor worthy."

I had two pages rush to get something simple for Mirana to wear and to alert the doctor that we were on our way.

"Have you sent for Landrew yet?" I asked.

She nodded quickly as I began to unfasten her gown. "Yes, I did. I don't know where he is!"

"He'll be here, do not worry about that. We'll have someone find him. How are you feeling? Besides wet."

"Nervous … no, terrified. Alice, I have no idea what I'm doing!"

"Of course you don't. But that's fine. No one does for their first baby. I was emotional and irrational and scared to death. But look what I got! A beautiful little girl! And I liked her so much that I went ahead and did it all again."

She smiled at me, but it wasn't the full smile to which I was accustomed.

I continued, "And you are going to have a gorgeous little girl at the end of this. So, can you keep it together for me? Focus on something, and keep your eyes on the prize."

Just then, the page arrived with a simple dress. I thanked her and asked her to fetch Tarrant for me. Perhaps he could find Landrew.

I helped Mirana out of the wet gown and into the new dry dress.

"Now, we need to get you to the hospital ward. Can you walk?" I asked.

"For now, yes. Let's go before that changes."

"Tea and crackers!" I heard from the doorway. "She is in labor!"

I wanted to roll my eyes at my husband, but refrained to keep at the matter at hand. "Did you think the page was telling tales?" I asked, in no mood for one of his bouts. "Can you help in the search for Landrew? If you find him, send him straight to the hospital ward!"

"Yes, yes, of course!"

Tarrant rushed off, almost losing his hat in the process, and I began to help Mirana to the birthing suite. It was going to be a long day.

Once we were there, the doctor helped her settle in and checked her.

"Your majesty, you've got a wait ahead of you. Just try to relax and I'll check on you again very soon."

He hurried out before she could reply.

"How can he leave me? I need the doctor! How else am I going to have this baby? I need help and it just left!"

After a few years in Underland, I began to realize that it wasn't just a case of mercury poisoning with my husband. While that certainly intensified his fits, all inhabitants of this fine land were prone to ramblings when in emotional situations.

"Mirana, look at me! The doctor will return. For now, there is very little to be done, but wait. Lily will make her appearance only when she is ready. And let's face it, she's a day late already!"

"Don't I know it!" Mirana sighed.

"There's nothing to worry about for now. We shall just sit here and chat. We haven't done that in a while. So … what's new?" I said with a smile.

"Oh, you know, nothing really," she replied, returning the smile and this time it was much brighter. We both laughed and then it died away. Mirana got a very serious look on her face. "Alice, do you think I can do this?"

"Well, it's not as though you really have a choice now," I said, only half joking.

"I know, but … I've always found myself to be a bit squeamish. And I've a low pain threshold."

"Mirana, I would be lying to you if I said it didn't hurt. It does. But the doctor has a fabulous potion that helps. And you won't even mind being squeamish then. You'll be so happy to have your little girl resting on you, that you won't even notice!"

"Really?" she asked with her voice full of hope.

"Yes, really."

"I would feel better if Landrew was here," she said softly.

I couldn't help but wonder where either of our husbands were.

"I know, but he'll be here soon. You know how good Tarrant is at finding things. He can find a needle anywhere, so he can certainly find your husband."

"I'm frightened," she whispered.

"Mirana, you are queen of all of Underland! How can you be frightened?"

"I can't do this alone."

"You won't be. I promise you that. Even if we can't find Landrew, though we will," I added when her face fell. "I will be here if he cannot. However, it won't matter since he will be here."

She nodded uncertainly. And then her face scrunched up. "Oh dear," she moaned.

"Contraction?" I asked, even though I knew the answer.

"I believe so. That was … well, it wasn't too bad."

"It will get worse, I'm sorry to say. But by then, the doctor will give you that fantastic potion and all will be well again."

And for another hour, we sat and talked. The contractions continued, I helped her breathe. The doctor came in, Landrew did not. She was beginning to get frantic.

Where could they have been?

** Cut to Tarrant's POV

After seeing Alice and Mirana in the royal office, I'll admit, I lost my nerve a bit. I couldn't figure out why. It wasn't as though Alice was in labor, but a woman about to give birth tends to make men nervous. I ran as fast as my oversized shoes could carry me.

I searched for Landrew both to find him for Mirana and to get out of the castle to clear my head.

After checking his office and their chambers, I headed out to the gardens. He had to be somewhere!

Finally, I got to one of the furthest spots in all of Marmoreal's gardens, when I heard some one mumbling.

"Landrew?" I called.

"Tarrant?" he answered.

"Yes, it's me. What are you doing out here?"

"Panicking, it would seem," he said with a wry laugh.

"You heard what is happening, then?"

He nodded. "I need to be with her, I know. But I'm so … frightened. How can I face her and be there for her when I'm a complete mess?"

"The same way every first time father-to-be is: with terror in your eyes and a shake to your voice."

Landrew looked at me with confusion clearly on his face. "How will that help her?"

"It won't necessarily. But you will be there and that's a start. And when you're there, it will all start to come together. You need to be prepared for the yelling, yes. And there's messiness and craziness. But there's also that miraculous moment of mirth … M words …" I shook my head. Stay on target, Tarrant! "…that moment when you see your daughter for the first time. And then all of it is worth it."

He smiled at me. "Tarrant, I don't know why they call you mad. You are possibly the wisest person I know," Landrew said as he stood.

"Well, sanity and wisdom are two different things. If you ask me, madness and understanding usually go hand in hand."

He shook his head and laughed. "Perhaps you are right." Landrew began to walk towards the castle and then stopped. "Do you think Mirana will be cross with me for being so late?"

"Yes," I answered honestly. No sense lying to him now. "But she'll quickly be over it when she realizes how much she wants you there and better late than never. She'd be much more angry if you miss it entirely."

His eyes widened at the thought. "You don't think she's had the baby yet, do you?"

"I would doubt it. Lily is already a day late. She doesn't seem to be in a hurry to arrive on time. Besides, royalty is never late, everybody else is simply early."

And with that, we walked (quite briskly) back to the castle. I was hoping that Alice was able to keep Mirana calm, for the sake of both parents-to-be.

**Back to Alice's POV

Things were finally starting to move along for Mirana. The contractions were coming faster and, unfortunately, stronger. Landrew needed to arrive and soon.

Just as I had begun to give up hope, a flash of orange at the door caught my eye.

"Look who I found!" Tarrant cried as he dragged in Landrew.

"Where have you been?" Mirana and I asked together.

"I was …" he began.

"He was chatting with the gardeners about a special lily to be planted in honor of your daughter. He was quite hidden in the gardens," Tarrant interrupted.

I gave him a skeptical look and the corners of his mouth barely turned up, letting me know that something was indeed up his sleeve.

"That's lovely, my dear, but I wish you would have been here," Mirana sighed. "At least you're here now. Alice, thank you so much for being with me."

"Yes, Alice, I cannot thank you enough for being with my sweet Mirana in my absence. I apologize for the necessity," Landrew said.

"At least you are here now," I said as gently and as sternly as I could. I stood up and kissed Mirana's forehead. "Good luck, my sister. You'll be fine. Be strong and remember what you're working for."

"Thank you, my precious sister," she whispered.

Tarrant kissed her cheek and shook Landrew's hand. I hugged Landrew and whispered to him, "You are lucky you've arrived in time. You wouldn't want to miss this."

He simply nodded. And at that, Tarrant and I took our leave to wait for the news.

We went to his workshop. I certainly couldn't handle the board of education meeting, so I hid there with him. He showed me some lovely creations he was working on and showed me plans for another one that just needed a bit more … "inspiration." This led me to believe that it was for me, but needed that touch of motivation that usually came from us making love. I really liked the hat, so I locked the door and proceeded to inspire my husband to his creative greatness. I must say, the hat came out beautifully.

After all of that, we sat to have some tea. Just as we were finishing, McTwisp ran into the shop. (I was thankful that I remembered to unlock the door.)

"Alice! Tarrant! She's here!"

We looked at each other, smiled and took off after Nivens. In what seemed like mere moments, we were back at the birthing suite. I knocked gently.

"Come in," I heard Landrew softly call.

We entered and saw Mirana looking tired but so very joyful, holding a bundle of blankets to her chest.

"Alice, Tarrant, come see your niece," she whispered.

I went over first and smiled at the baby girl. She had her mother's pale blond hair and her father's sparkling blue eyes. In short, she was gorgeous.

"She's so beautiful!" I said.

"Would you like to hold her?" Mirana asked.

"As if you needed to ask," I replied, holding out my arms.

Tarrant came up next to me and smiled. "She is a bonnie lass, Mirana, Landrew."

"She looks like her mother," the proud father said.

"Lily, you are going to be such a gift to your parents. A blessing. Your Auntie Alice, and your Uncle Tarrant and your cousins Lottie and Will all love you very much."

"May I hold her?" Tarrant asked. I reluctantly passed her over. He kissed her gently on the forehead and whispered an Outlandish prayer over her. He had said the same thing when Charlotte and Will were born.

Mirana yawned and we knew it was time to go. She protested, but we insisted that she get some rest. Tarrant handed Lily back to her and kissed her cheek. He hugged Landrew and I could have sworn Tarrant said, "I'll talk to the gardener for you." I had to smile. I kissed Mirana as well and hugged Landrew. We gave our congratulations again and went back to the gardens to find the children. We both wanted to see them and play with them now.

End note: There are two movie quotes hidden in here. Cookies to those who find them!